The Story of the Illawarra Stockade - Stationed Military Regiments & Convict Discipline 1816-44

The Story of the Illawarra Stockade

Stationed Military Regiments & Convict Discipline 1816-44

Michael Organ

Robert Marsh Westmacott, 'Wollongong from the stockade, April 20th, 1840'. Watercolour on paper, National Library of Australia.

Introduction

The Illawarra has a convict history. The story of the Illawarra Stockade is also the story of the first phase of European settlement at Wollongong, located on the coast some 50 miles south of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Beginning in earnest in 1826 - though with antecedents dating back a decade earlier to 1816 - the military presence was significant during the years of occupation, reflecting the frontier nature of Illawarra at the time, and the fact that a large percentage of the population was convict. By the time Captain Ramsbottom and the soldiers of the 99th Regiment of Foot (Lanarkshire Volunteers) left Wollongong barracks at the end of 1844, the region had been transformed from a series of dispersed land grants - used to depasture cattle, and occupied by a few isolated stockmen - into a thriving agricultural community with large estates, tenant farms, an Agricultural Society and District Council, the burgeoning township of Wollongong, roads and bridges, and a bustling harbour. The necessary infrastructure to accommodate this growth had been set in place during the 1830s by Governor Richard Bourke, and much of the subsequent work was been carried out by convict work gangs under the supervision of various British military regiments.

During the 1830s and 1840s the town of Wollongong was laid out and cleared, based on an 1834 plan by Surveyor General T.L. Mitchell; roads and bridges were built throughout the district, and Wollongong harbour basin and breakwater were constructed - all with the aid of convict labour and military superintendence. Unfortunately, the economic depression of the early 1840s put paid to some major public projects in the area, such as the Sydney to Illawarra road and further harbour works. However, the foundations for the modern City of Wollongong were nevertheless set in place in association with the period of the stockade.

Previous histories of Illawarra have tended to concentrate on the role of explorers and free settlers in the development of the region. People such as Charles Throsby Smith, Henry Osborne, Cornelius O'Brien and Robert Marsh Westmacott are some of the names which readily spring to mind - individuals who owned large parcels of land in the district and who were heavily involved in its transformation into 'the Garden of New South Wales' - a title allocated in the early 1830s as a result of the botanical richness of the area and the fact that it quickly became a major supplier of food and other commodities to nearby Sydney.

An area of Illawarra local history which has been little studied is the role of the military regiments and the convicts in this first phase of European settlement - beginning with the arrival of Charles Throsby in 1815 and coming to a close with the onset of the goldrushes in 1851. In the recent past there had been celebrated Wollongong's sesquicentenary (1984), the 200th anniversary of Bass & Flinders' visit to the region (1996), the 50th anniversary of the City of Wollongong (1997), and the sesquicentenary of the shipping of the first load of coal from Mount Keira (1999). Having celebrated the explorers and 'founding fathers', it is appropriate that consideration be given to the role played by soldiers and convicts in the development of Wollongong some 150 years ago.

It is not necessarily appropriate to lump soldiers and convicts together in such a discussion. However, an outline of the history of the Illawarra Stockade between 1826-44 necessitates that it be so. References to prior military excursions into the area, and consideration of aspects of the military's work locally will, by default, also involve some discussion of the use and treatment of convicts. In Illawarra during this period the two groups were inextricably linked, for good or bad.

Anybody interested in finding out more about the circumstance of settlers and convicts in the region are referred to the writings of Alexander Harris, a free settler who resided in the district sometime between 1826-34. However our story today will focus on soldiers and convicts, and the Illawarra stockade.

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Historical Chronology

The story of military involvement in Illawarra can be roughly broken down into 3 stages:

1. pre 1816 - Aborigines, explorers and escaped convicts

2. 1816-26 - European settlement

3. 1826-44 - The Illawarra Stockade

1st phase - pre 1816

Aboriginal occupation of the Illawarra likely extended back 130,000+ years, in line with known occupation of the Australian continent. Physical, archaeological evidence within the Illawarra region only goes back about 10,000 years. Aboriginal Dreaming - oral history and story telling - goes back to the arrival of people in the Illawarra, with no specific dates set.

1770

* 28 April 1770: Lt. James Cook and members of the crew of HMB Endeavour, including marines, attempt to land at Woonona, but are driven back by the surf. They observe local people, their canoes and habitation. Cook, against his orders, later claims the east coast of Australia for the British.

1788

* January 1788: The British settle at Sydney Cove, establishing a penal colony.

1796

* 25-29 March 1796: When explorers Bass and Flinders visit Illawarra, the local Aborigines refer to 'sojas' [soldiers] upon seeing Bass in his red soldier's jacket and carrying a gun. Flinders also noted that some escaped convicts were living with the Aborigines near Dapto. Not much notice was taken of Illawarra for the next 20 years.

1810-11

* First official cedar shipments from Shoalhaven and Illawarra.

* The arrival of Governor Macquarie in 1810 saw attempts to initiate the transformation of Australia from penal colony to free settlement, encouraging local land grants and industry.

1814

* Prohibition of cedar traffic; drought; conflict with Aborigines around Appin.

1815

* January-February: Charles Throsby establishes a cattle station at Wollongong.

* 9 December (Sydney Gazette): Joe Wyld, assistant to Charles Throsby, appointed Constable to the Five Islands district in order to control cattle thieve.

2nd Phase - European settlement

1816

* First land grants issued and more cattle brought into the district. Sparsely populated.

* April - May: Lieutenant Parker and a detachment of the 46th Regiment travel to Wollongong and occupy Red Point (26 April - 1 May) as part of Governor Macquarie's punitive campaign against the Aborigines of the Cumberland Plain. Show of force - brutal, though Illawarra Aborigines were spared as they were perceived as peaceful.

1817

* Cattle thieves at Illawarra.

1819

* Licenses issued to cut cedar at Illawarra.

1822

* Illawarra land shortage according to Commissioner Bigges' report due to prior allocation of large grants

* Alexander Berry selects at Shoalhaven.

* O'Brien's Road is developed down Mount Keira.

1823

* C.T. Smith settles at 'Bustle Town', Wollongong, and was an impetus for many of the changes to come.

1824-5

* During this period bushrangers were a problem throughout the Colony. Illawarra settlers complained of lack of police or military to protect them.

3rd Phase - The Illawarra Stockade / Military Garrison

1826

* 10 July: Captain Bishop of the 40th Regiment receives instructions to go to Illawarra to protect settlers from bushrangers, apprehend escaped convicts, and stop the illegal cedar trade and general lawlessness. A stockade is set up at David Allan's farm, Red Point (Port Kembla), with 30 soldiers. Victualled by C.T. Smith. It is unclear why Red Point was chosen, as it was not centrally located, though it was a prominent geographical feature. Evidence of bushrangers around this time is contained in Alexander Harris's Settlers and Convicts and the story of the Geraghty brothers.

* 7 December: Lieutenant John Fitzgerald Butler of the 39th Regiment officially succeeds Captain Bishop as commandant at Illawarra. This was the first of a number of changes of command and regiments to occur locally between 1826-44.

1827

* January: Lt. Butler brought administrative skills, as revealed in the Blue Books and various archival records e.g. Return of Convict punishments; assignment lists; Tickets of Leave issued.

* [Augustus Earle watercolour, May 1827]

* May 5 (Historical Records of Australia): Illawarra military stockade comprises - 1 subaltern, 10 rank and file of the 39th Regiment of Foot. They are stationed at Red Point.

* May 14 (Historical Records of Australia HRA): Illawarra - 10 soldiers and some constables.

* June - August: "Hell Hole" murder trial - Austin killed in December 1826.

1828

* Population of Illawarra: 368.

* J.S. Spearing of 'Paulsgrove' (Mount Keira / Gwynneville) - 31 assigned convict workers.

* April 26: George Bevis Harris (? author Alexander Harris) made Constable at Illawarra; replaces John Jones due to drunkenness.

* June 19 (HRA): Illawarra Station - 1 subaltern, 3 rank and file. 1 constable, 1 scourger.

* Military establishment at Red Point temporarily wound down.

* June - July: Major D'Arcy appointed Police Magistrate at Wollongong in June, with no contingent; replaces Lt. Fitzgerald on 15 July. Bushrangers in district (Underwood's gang); Henry Angel looses his Ticket of Leave for harboring a cattle thief.

1829

* Population of Illawarra: 792; includes 9,000 horned cattle.

* January 1: Lt. Fitzgerald replaces Major D'Arcy as Magistrate at Illawarra. Military return.

* April: Military barracks under construction at Wollongong, due to problems of isolation of garrison at Red Point and victualling. Temporary canvas barracks.

* December 30 (HRA): Detachment of 39th Regiment at Illawarra - 1 subaltern, 1 sergeant, 7 rank and file {HRA}

1830

* 1830s - the British army in Australia was at its most active. With the increasing number of convicts, it was called upon to preserve law and order, suppress Aboriginal resistance, maintain convict discipline, and supervise public works programmes. From 1832 military guards were also given the role of supervising convict work gangs. This was laborious work for both the convicts and soldiers - watching and directing all day, on top of guard and other military duties. In full military uniform, under the hot Australian sun, New South Wales could be hell or heaven for a soldier.

* Town of Wollongong develops; use of harbour increases.

* February 4: Lt. Sleeman replaces Lt. Butler as Commandant and resident Police Magistrate at Illawarra.

* July 27: New military barracks at Wollongong opened. Stockade moves from Red Point.

* December 30 (HRA): 39th Regiment at Illawarra - 1 officer, 6 rank and file.

1831

* December 30: Illawarra garrison: 39th Regiment - 1 subaltern, 7 rank and file; Mounted Police - 1 corporal, 2 troopers.

1832

* From 1832 sweeping changes to the convict system were introduced by Governor Richard Bourke. Local mounted police began to replace the military regiments.

* January: Surveyor Elliott ordered to survey Wollongong - begins in March 1833. Completed with Surveyor General Major T.L. Mitchell's plan for 'Town of Wollongong', October 1834.

* September 5: Captain Francis Allman replaces Lt. Sleeman as resident Magistrate at Illawarra. He brings an administrative edge. No military attachment at this time.

* November 11: Clerk to the Bench (Henry A.B. Bennett) and Scourger appointed.

* December 30: Illawarra Mounted Police - 1 corporal, 3 troopers. Military establishment wound down.

1833

* Population: 2,648. Returns for Bench of Magistrate are regularised and convict discipline formalised at Wollongong.

* December 31: Mounted Police - 1 corporal, 3 troopers.

* Captain Allman adverse to flogging, but nevertheless carries it out, in the area behind the military barracks near Brighton Lawn, Wollongong harbour.

* Martin Lynch quote - Flogging and Stocks 1830s

{Martin Lynch (1823-1905), arrived in Illawarra in 1827. Lived at Fairy Meadow and went to Wollongong Catholic school, Harbour Street. Interviewed by Archibald Campbell in 1898}

"Flogging - The flogging place was immediately at the rear of the old Court House (old Police Station now). The men were flogged in the forenoon and afternoon as a rule, being tied up on a triangle. The flogger wielded his thong lustily on the bare backs or buttocks of the men (according to sentence). The "cat" usually was six tailed, but nine tailed in instances of very numerous lashes to be given. On some cases the men flogged would clench their teeth, and not utter a sound, but in others painful shrieks were uttered. He (Mr Lynch) when attending school as a lad, frequently passed through the enclosure where the flogging was being carried out and watched the inflictions - and in the course of this process blood could readily be seen squirted about from the effects of the lashing. After a few strokes the flogger would draw the cat tails through his fingers to squeeze off the skin and flesh which he would cast away, and resume his ghastly work, until completed. This Mr Lynch gave from his personal observations....

Stocks - Stocks existed in the Market Square, and many a time he saw men confined in them - their legs held fast in openings in two heavy pieces of wood drawn together. Sentences to the stocks usually were not for long, and only for minor offenses."

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* Local society structure / hierarchy - settlers, soldiers and convicts.

1 - Military officers and large landowner

2 - Free settlers - poor tenant farmers

3 - Ex-convicts and hired servants

4 - Aborigines

5 - Convicts

Military to come into conflict with local settlers over lenient treatment of convicts, e.g. Captain Allman versus Henry Osborne.

1834

* January 10: Henry Osborne complains to Governor Bourke re Captain Allman's embarrassment of him in front of a convict.

* January 14: Captain Waldron incident - alleged assault by Mary Maloney and Sarah McGregor. Dies on 28th.

* March 4: Captain Allman replaced by William Nairn Gray as Police Magistrate at Illawarra, following on incident with Henry Osborne, who is subsequently appointed a Magistrate.

* April-May: Governor Bourke visits Wollongong, accompanied by Aid-de-camp Robert Marsh Westmacott.

* September 16: Tender for erection of Courthouse, Lock-up and 3 cells at Wollongong.

* November 1: Henry Bennett sacked for drunkenness; replaced by James O'Brien Crooker as Deputy Postmaster, Clerk to the Bench, and Registrar of the Court of Requests.

* Ironed work gangs and movable military stockades in the Illawarra.

* Stockade establishment at Wollongong harbour: comprised officers and soldiers barracks, guard room, store, convicts mess shed, and wooden houses or boxes to house the convicts.

1835

* May 1: Lieutenant Henry Maxwell Otway of the 50th Regiment appointed to Illawarra road gangs. 60 convicts sent from Sydney to work on road gangs and Wollongong Harbour breakwater. Crossroads stockade and Wollongong barracks maintained.

* July 24 (HRA): 76 2nd class convicts working on Illawarra Road Gangs.

* December 31: 50th Regiment - 1 subaltern, 2 sergeants, 30 rank and file.

1836

* Population: Wollongong 1297, Kiama 1312. There were 27,000 convicts in New South Wales.

* January 1: 1 district and 3 ordinary constables; 1 scourger. Edward Corrigan Chief Constable.

* April 1: Lt. Sheaffe replaced Lt. Otway at Crossroads Stockade after misbehaviour by Otway.

* April 10: Lt. Otway commits suicide at Crossroads Stockade.

* July 1: Medical Attendant appointed to Irons Gangs.

* August 1: Alfred Holden replaces W.N. Gray as Police Magistrate at Illawarra.

* September: Backhouse and Walker report on Crossroads road gang.

{Backhouse & Walker - Illawarra & Shoalhaven 1836, Illawarra Historical Society, 1991.}

* Backhouse - [Wednesday, 21 September 1836] - At 4 o'clock we assembled with a large Road Party 1 1/2 miles from the town, and under the charge of Lieutenant Sheaffe, and had some religious service with them. There were also present a considerable number of military under arms, and their wives, as well as the commanding officer and his wife.

They were assembled in a large open mess shed, which forms one end of an oblong area having the officer's quarters at the opposite end, six Boxes on one side and the military barracks on the other. In the rear of the Boxes are two cells for solitary confinement and a few other small slab huts, and there are small huts in the rear of the military barracks for constables, messengers, &c. The whole place is remarkable for cleanliness and order very creditable to the officer in charge.

The Boxes are 10 ft. wide and accommodate 24 to 28 persons. None of the prisoners here are in chains except a few for misconduct. They are employed in forming a road and bridges to give access by carriages into the district........

* Walker - [Wednesday, 21 September 1836] Lt. Sheaffe of the 50th being at Wollongong, as Superintendent of the road-gang which is an unusually large one, consisting of nearly 140 men, we arranged with him to meet them the same afternoon at 4 o'clock.......

We dined with C.T. and S. Smith. The former accompanied us to the Stockade, which is about a couple of miles from the Settlement, where we had a religious meeting with the Prisoners, and Military, who were drawn up under arms, on the occasion, while the Prisoners sat under the shed where they usually take their meals.

[Georgiana Lowe watercolour of Stockade]

The Stockade is one of the cleanest and best arranged establishments of the kind we have visited. There are 6 moveable huts, each hut containing 24 men, the width being 10 feet, other dimensions being much the same as those we have described on visiting other Stockades. The gang is employed in constructing a road from Wollongong to Dapto which is already in a state of considerable forwardness, some miles of it being completed. They are also engaged in opening out the streets (or lines intended for streets) by clearing away the shrubs and trees that occupy the site of a considerable portion of the intended town...

* B&W, p79 fuller description.

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* December 31: 50th Regiment at Illawarra - 1 subaltern, 2 corporals, 24 rank and file.

1837

* Muster of convicts. "Military Garrison". The military introduced cricket to NSW in the 1820s - at Wollongong they constructed a baths at Wollongong Point for wives to use.

* January: Alexander Stewart made Constable.

* March: First steamer to Wollongong - the William IV.

* August 1: Thomas Cronin appointed Foreman of Works for Wollongong Harbour.

* August 16: Captain Patrick Plunkett (80th Regiment) replaces Lieutenant Sheaffe (50th Regiment).

* December 1: Lt. Rait replaces Captain Plunkett as Superintendent of Iron Gangs and Assistant Engineer for Harbour works. Captain Plunkett appointed Police Magistrate at Illawarra.

* December 18: Work begins on excavations at Wollongong harbour with convict labour.

* December 31: 80th Regiment - 1 Captain, 1 Subaltern, 2 sergeants, 29 Rank and File

1838

* September: Stockade at Dapto. Moved from Wollongong and the Crossroads.

* December 31: 80th Regiment at Illawarra - 1 Captain, 3 Sergeants, 30 Rank and File.

1839

* Wollongong Harbour plan - shows location of convict stockade.

* May: Lady Jane Franklin and party visit Illawarra and convict establishment at Wollongong. First stonework laid at harbour by Thomas Cronin. Illawarra Steam Packet Co. formed.

{Michael Organ (ed.), The Illawarra Diary of Lady Jane Franklin, 10-17 May 1839, Illawarra Historical Publications, Wollongong, 1988, 16}

"Sunday, 12th May.........[Flagstaff Hill, afternoon] The barracks and huts of the prisoners are here. We looked into the huts, etc. There are about 115 convicts here and about 30 troops of the 80th Regiment. Captain Rait is the Commandant. The men are lodged in wooden `boxes' forming the side of a square on the tongue of land which was the only part Sir Richard Bourke would accept from Mr Smith. There are 5 or 6 of these `boxes', with no windows, and holding 24 each. No light or air enters them but from iron bars at the top of the door. Men were lying on the bare floors and on bare wooden platforms alone. We were told they were locked in only at night, but found them locked in now. We saw no mattresses.

`Have they none?' we asked the soldiers.

`Only the sick', was their reply.

The commanding officer lives 2 miles off in a place where there was a stockade when the road was in the making.

[Comment: These boxes were rather dreadful - mobile, wooden, approximately 10 ft wide x 14 ft long x 6 ft high. They would house 24-28 men i.e. 4 rows of 6 + one urinal. Very cramped, no mattresses, only blankets, and locked in.]

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* July 1: No. 4 Company of the 28th Regiment of Foot takes up posting at Illawarra, replacing the 80th Regiment. Captain Adams replaces Lt. Rait. William and Thomas Organ arrive.

* December 31: 28th Regiment - 1 Captain, 2 Sergeants, 30 Rank and File. 203 Convicts.

1840

* March 8: Captain Adams (28th) replaced by Lt. J.D. Morris (40th) as Superintendent of Iron Gangs and Assistant Engineer.

* April 1: Corporals William and Thomas Organ purchase discharges from 28th Regiment to settle in Illawarra.

* August: Legislative Council votes a further Ł1,700 for Wollongong harbour works.

* December 31: 80th Regiment - 1 Subaltern, 3 sergeants, 54 Rank and File. 177 Convicts.

1841

* Census: 2633 males, 1411 females = 4044. Economic depression.

* July 3: Australian: Report on basin and breakwater work.

* September 30: 80th Regiment - 1 Subaltern, 2 sergeants, 35 Rank and File. 155 Convicts.

* October: Stockade at Charcoal Creek (Unanderra).

* Georgiana Lowe pictures of Illawarra.

1842

* April 9 (Sydney Herald): Report on harbour works.

* July 29 (Australian): Report on harbour works.

* September 9: 80th Regiment of Foot stationed at Wollongong replaced by 99th Regiment of Foot in September. Major Ewen McPherson (99th Regiment) replaces Lt. Morris (80th) as Superintendent of Iron Gangs and Assistant Engineer.

* September 30: 99th Regiment at Illawarra - 1 Captain, 2 Sergeants, 35 Rank and file. 118 convicts. Ł2500 on harbour.

1843

* December 31: Military establishment at Illawarra and Newcastle - 210 convicts. 99th Regiment - 1 Captain, 2 Sergeants, 35 rank and file. £3000 on harbour

1844

* February 1: Captain Richard Ramsbottom replaces Major McPherson in charge of 99th Regiment at Illawarra.

* April 30: Breakwater Petition calling for maintenance of Stockade and building of Wollongong breakwater.

* Road gang working at Darkes Forest on Sydney to Illawarra road.

* November 25: (Sydney Morning Herald): Report on cattle stealing at Bulli and completion of Wollongong harbour works.

* December: The 99th Regiment leaves Illawarra and the military stockade is converted to a civilian establishment.

* £3,500 spent on harbour works.

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Discussion

By 1848 the New South Wales population was 220,000, of which only 3% were convicts under sentence. The convict transport system to NSW had ceased in 1840, with no more arrivals and no more assignment, though there was a large influx of free immigrants between 1837-45, and the goldrushes brought more from 1851.

What had the military brought to Illawarra?

* Law and order;

* Supervision of labour;

* Knowledge and expertise;

* Administrative skills;

* Economic benefits, jobs, money, etc.

Some members of the military settled in the region, e.g. the Organs, Captain Westmacott, Lt. Sheaffe.

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Examples of Convict Punishments - Illawarra Stockade (1827 - 1844)

January 1827: John Sweeny - insolence -> 25 lashes

January 1827: Henry Cullen - drunk and stealing -> 25 lashes

9 February 1833: Thomas Doughlas - refusing to work -> 50 lashes

27 March 1833: Frederick Jones - insulting Capt. Waldron -> 50 lashes

4 April 1833: Michael McKensie & Thomas Low - late for work and idleness -> 50 + 25 lashes

5 June 1833: Thomas Lamb - theft -> 50 lashes

4 January 1834: Thomas Dailey - absconding -> 50 lashes

3 June 1834: John Friendship - lying -> 25 lashes

1 April 1835: John Edmunds - striking overseer -> 50 lashes

19 July 1835: James Davidson - neglect of work -> 50 lashes

22 July 1835: Edmund Carman - wearing women's clothes -> 50 lashes

24 February 1836: Dennis McFadden - drunk -> 4 hours stocks

13 April 1836: Michael Gray - stealing 3 silk hankies -> 75 lashes

21 March 1837: James Gregory - swearing after receiving 75 lashes -> 50 lashes

10 August 1837: William Heathcoat - prevarication -> 50 lashes

18 September 1837: William Phillips - feigning sickness -> 50 lashes + 2 months treadmill

3 February 1838: William Jones - insolence & disobedience -> 75 lashes

9 February 1838: John Hater - drunk and in Aboriginal camp -> 4 hours stocks

10 March 1838: Alexander Thompson - Absent at night -> 50 lashes

19 March 1838: Thomas Plunkett - Assault -> 50 lashes

20 July 1839: John Leary - Refusal to work -> 4 months Treadmill

3 August 1839: Joseph Alaborough - Disobedience (50 lashes) + disrespect to Court -> 50 lashes

6 August 1839: William Cooper - drunk + exposing himself -> 100 lashes

2 April 1841: William McDonnell (free) - Drunk -> Fine 5/- or 5 hours in stocks

7 September 1841: Abraham Samuels - insolent to Henry Osborne. Magistrate - John Osborne & Patrick Plunkett -> 100 lashes.

21 December 1841: Thomas Caper - drunk -> 50 lashes

1 October 1844: Patrick Sheehan - insolent to Captain Westmacott -> 50 lashes

8 October 1844: Mary Funulty - Immoral and pregnant -> Ticket of Leave cancelled

4 November 1837: 50 lashes for splitting only 19 rails per day at Kangaroo Ground (lazy), and 50 for not raising hat in the presence of a Reverend Gentleman (insolence).

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Illawarra Military & Police Establishment

1826 - 1844

Date: Regiment - Commandant - Contingent.

* July - December 1826: 40th - Captain Bishop - 30 rank and file

* December 1826 - July 1828: 39th - Lt. J. Fitzgerald Butler - 10 rank & file + constables.

* July - Dec. 1828: Major D'Arcy (Police Magistrate).

* January 1829 - January 1830: 39th - Lt. J. Fitzgerald Butler - 1 sergeant, 7 rank & file.

* February 1830 - September 1832: 39th - Lt. Sleeman - 7 rank & file; 3 mounted police.

* September 1832 - March 1834: Captain Allman (Police Magistrate) - 4 mounted police.

* April 1834 - July 1836: W.N. Gray (Police Magistrate) - 4 mounted police.

* May 1835 - April 1836: 50th - Lt. Otway - 2 sergeants, 30 rank & file. 

* April 1836 - August 1837: 50th - Lt. Sheaffe - 2 corporals, 24 rank & file.

* August 1837 - November 1837: 80th - Captain P. Plunkett - 2 sergeants, 29 rank & file.

* December 1837 - July 1839: Police Magistrate.

* December 1837 - June 1839: 80th - Lt. Rait - 3 sergeants, 30 rank & file.

* July 1839 - March 1840: 28th - Captain Adams - 2 sergeants, 30 rank & file.

* April 1840 - September 1842: 80th - Lt. J.D. Morris - 3 sergeants, 54 rank & file.

* September 1842 - January 1844: 99th - Major McPherson - 2 sergeants, 35 rank & file.

* February - December 1844: 99th - Capt. Ramsbottom - 2 sergeants, 35 rank & file.

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Last updated: 25 October 2005

Michael Organ, Australia 🇦🇺